Elapsed Time Photographs

Media: photography

Number of images: 2

Print size: 16x20 inches

Execution: 1973 / 2020

In January, 1973, I photographed the inside of a mausoleum at the Bloomfield Cemetery (Bloomfield, California) framing the window inside with a view to the outside. In October, 2020, forty-seven years later, I revisited the cemetery again and re-photographed from the same viewpoint. However, as I had not looked at my original image in thirty plus years, I had to rely on memory to recreate the image: thus, the slight variance. As you can see, tombstones have been moved, trees replaced and vertical security bars have been put in the window.

When looking at older work, I can remember the image and the location but my sense of calendar time might be off anywhere from one to three years.[1] While time and memory are cojoined there are variances in the details as though the time line has been altered when reviewed.

[1] Fortunately for the 1973 image, I used color slide film that is date stamped on the slide mount. On a technical note: the original image was shot on Ektachrome and the color dyes have started to degrade creating a colder and bluer image than I remember.
Cemetary Tomb 1973

Elapsed Time - 1973

Cemetary Tomb 2020

Elapsed Time - 2020